Water distributor for condensers of ice manufacturing systems



y 1932- J. A. MARTOCELLO. SR 1,865,775

WATER DISTRIBUTOR FOR CONDENSERS OF ICE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 27, 1931 Inventor: Jbsepi'z .25. Martaceliag S7:

dttorney Patented July 5,- 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca- WATER DISTRIBUTOR FOR CONDENSERS 0]! ICE MAINUFACTUBIN G SYSTEMS Application filed August 27, 1931.

.My invention relates to improvements in distributors for condensers of ice manufacturing systems and particularly to distributors for condensers of the vertical water tube t e.

A condenser of the type to which my invention is particularly adapted consists of a cylinder into which the ammonia gas is admitted and condensed to a liquid by cooling with water or other cooling medium passing through a series of tubes extending vertically through the cylinder. The distributors are located at the upper ends of the tubes for directing the cooling water into the tubes.

Theobject of my invention is to provide a novel form of distributor having an inlet arranged for directing the water in a spiral course as it enters the tube of the condenser.

A further object is toconstruct the distributor with means for directing the water in a spiral path as it passes downwardly through the distributor and enters the tube of the condenser so that the water will be thrown outwardly against the inner surface of the condenser tube forming means for rapidly cooling the tube and also forming an axial passageway through the center of the tube through which the heat may ascend to the 11 per portion of the condenser.

A iiirther object is to construct the dis tributor with a side inlet located below the top of the wall forming the top of the distributor and also locate said opening eccentrically or tangentially relatively to the axis of the distributor and the tube on which the distributor is mounted so that the water entering the opening will be given a whirling motion.

A further object is to provide the distributor with a cylindrical wall forming an axial passageway and provide said wall with inwardly projecting webs which are inclined downwardly forming a spiral passageway for directingthe water in a spiral path and impart a whirling motion to the water.

A further object is to provide the distributor with an outwardly projecting lip which forms the inlet approach surface. The lip is inclined slightly below the level of the breast wall forming the bottom of the inlet Serial No. 559,652.

opening into the distributor, so that the outer edge of the lip will be below-the level of the breast wall and the inclined surface of the lip will assist in carrying foreign particles into the inlet opening without obstructing said opening.

A still further object is to rovide locking means upon the distributor, or interlocking a distributor with the. next adjacent distributor in the condenser cylinder, for pre- 00 venting the rotation of the distributors relatively to the tubes-of the condenser, thus insuring the tangential inlet openings of the distributors being presented toward the whirling motion of the water in the tank in which the distributors are located.

These together with various other novel features of construction and arrangements of the parts, which will be more fully hereinafter' described and claimed, constitute my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawin Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improve distributor.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the distributor shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view as on line 33, Figs; 2 and 4.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view as on line Jr-4, Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a condenser showing my invention embodied therein.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, as on line 66, Fig. 5.

In the accompanying drawing in which. like reference characters refer to like parts, 10 represents my improved distributor consisting of a hollow cylindrical body having a lower portion or shank 12 and a top portion 13. An annular flange 15 is located centrally upon the body, between the portions 12 and 13. The cylindrical shank 12 is adapted to loosely enter the end of a condenser tube, as shown in Fig. 6. The top portion 13 of the body is held above the upper end of the tube by means of the flange 15 and the distributor body is held in'axialalignment with the tube by means of the shank 12 and the flange 15.

The distributor body is of hollow construction forming a vertical passageway through the same, which is open at the upper and tion- 13 of the body. The opening 16 is also defined by vertical side walls 19 and 20 which are integrally formed with the body. The vertical wall 19 extends outwardly from the cylindrical portion of the body in a line which is approximately radial with the longitudinal axis of the body, as seen in Fig. 2.

The vertical wall 20 is located eccentrically of the body and is connected with the cylindrical portion of the body by a tangential "wall 21. The inlet opening 16, thus formed between the two vertical walls 19 and 20, as shown in Fig. 2, is positioned eccentrically, or tangentially, relatively to the axis of the vertical passageway through the body,

so that water entering the inlet 16 will be directed against the curved tangential wall 21 and given a whirling motion. The tangential wall 21 forms an eccentric protuberance 23 upon the body and also an inwardly and downwardly curved portion 24, as shown in Fig. 4.

The side walls 19 and 20 are also integrally connected with the breast wall 18' by curved fillets or walls.

A lip 25 is formed between the vertical side walls 19 and 20 and is inclined downwardly and outwardly from the breast wall 18, thus forming an inclined approach surface 26 over which any foreign particles will be carried as they enter the distributor. The surface 26 of the lip thus forms an easy gliding approach to the inlet opening for preventing foreign matter from sticking and obstructing the flow of water over the breast wall 18.

Within the hollow body portion of the distributor is located a web 28 which forms a downwardly inclined surface from the breast wall 18 of the inlet opening and is integrally formed with the tangential wall 21 and also with the cylindrical wall of the body. The web 28 is of slightly more than of semicircular area, as shown in Fig. 2, and it terminates at the edge 29 over which is discharged the water from the web 28, after it has been given a further whirling motion as it flows downwardly over the latter.

A lower web 30 is located within the lower cylindrical shank portion of the body, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The lower web 30 is inclined downwardly with its peripheral edge integrally formed with the cylindrical wall of the body. The lower web 30 is nearly semicircular in form, as shown in Fig. 2, and is positioned so that its higher portion will be adjacent to the lower portion of the upper web 28. The lower web 30 is located out of vertical alignment with the upper web so that it will receive the water as it is discharged from the upper web. The two webs are arranged to form a spiral path for the water as it flows from the inlet opening downwardly through the distributor and gives the water a whirling spiral motion, which is continued downwardly through the tubes of the condenser against the inner cylindrical surface of the tubes, thus forming a hollow column of water within the tubes which rapidly cools the tubes and also forms an axial passageway to the top of the tube through which the heat is free to ascend and escape through the distributors at the top of the tubes.

The fingers are provided upon the peripheral portion of the flange 15 of the distributors and extend .radially from the vertical axis of the, distributors. There is one finger 32 positioned upon one portion of the flange 15 and there is a pair of fingers 33 located .upon the flange so that the space 34 between the fingers 33 of the pair will be located diametrically opposite to the single finger 32. By this arrangement the finger of one distributor will enter thespace between the pair of fingers carried by the next adjacent distributor, thereby prevent-ing the distributors from revolving relatively to the pipes on which they are mounted.

The condenser 36 shown in Fi s. 5 and 6 consists of a cylinder 37, positioned vertically and closed by end walls 38, the upper one of which is shown in the drawing and forms the bottom of a receiving tank 40 into which Water is discharged through a tangentially positioned inlet pipe 41.

Tubes 42 are arranged in parallel relation to each other and extend vertically through the cylinder 37 of the condenser. The ends of the tubes are secured and tightly sealed in the top and bottom end walls 38. The tubes 42 project slightly above the top wall 38 for receiving the shanks 12 of the distributors 10, with the flanges 15 of the distributors resting upon the upper ends of the tubes. The distributors are arranged and interlocked in relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 5, by means of the fingers 32 and 33 so that the inlet openings 16 of the distributors will be presented so that they will receive the water in the tank as it is given a whirling motion within the tank by the tangentially positioned supply pipe 41, and the water as it passes through the distributors into the individual tubes 42 will be given a whirling motion by the novel construction of the distributors, as above described.

The level of the water in the tank 40 is maintained'as nearly as possible immediately above the breast walls 18 of the distributors. To assist in maintaining the water at the desired level, a cylinder 43 is located within the tank 40 and surrounds the dis- 5 tributors 10. The cylinder 43 is supported above the upper end wall 38 by means of legs 44, between which the water is free to pass, and said legs support the cylinder 43 with its lower edge positioned to give the desired water level.

The cylinder 43 prevents variations in the level of the water outside of the cylinder 43 from immediately efi'ectin'g the water level within the cylinder 43, so that all of the dis tributors will receive the same amount of water.

Various changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. In a distributor for tubes of condensers, a body of hollow construction, a cylindrical shank upon the body adapted to enter a tube of the condenser, and said body having a tangentially positioned inlet opening formed therein.

2. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body, a shank upon one end of the body adapted to enter a tube of the condenser, said body having an inlet opening formed through the side wall thereof, and said opening positioned tangentially relatively to the axis of the cylindrical body.

3. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body having open ends, supporting means upon the body for supporting the latter upon a tube of a condenser, a tangentially curved side wall integral with the cylindrical body, and said cylindrical body having an inlet opening therein defined by said tangential wall.

4. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser,

' a hollow cylindrical body having open ends,

supporting means upon the body for supporting the latter upon a tube of a condenser, said body having an inlet opening formed therein, and an eccentrically positioned protuberance upon the body forming the outer side wall of said opening. I

5. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body having open ends, supporting means upon the body for supporting the latter upon a tube of a condenser, said body having an inlet opening formed therein, an outwardly projecting lip upon the body defining the lower wall of said opening, and a tangentially curved side wall integral with the cylindrical body and integral with said lip.

6. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a. hollow cylindrical body having open ends, supporting means upon the body for supporting the latter upon a tube of a condenser, said body having an eccentrically positioned inlet opening, a lip upon said body, and said with said cylindrical body.

an upwardly extending side wall upon the outer portion of said lip formed tangentially 8. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body having open ends, supporting means upon the body for supporting thelatter upon a tube of a condenser, and guide means within said body positioned to direct the flow of liquid spirally through the body.

9. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body having open ends, supporting means upon the body for supporting the latter upon a tube of a condenser,

a web located within the body, said web formed integrally with said body, and said web inclined downwardly from the upper portion of said body positioned for direct- {)ng1 the flow of liquid spirally through the 10. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body having open ends, supporting means upon the body for supporting the latter upon a tube of a condenser, a web located within the body, said web inclined downwardly from the upper portion of said body, and said web being approximately of semicircular area arranged for directing'the flow of liquid against the inner cylindrical surface of said body.

11. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body having open ends, supporting means upon the body for supporting the latter upon a tube of a condenser, said body having an inlet opening formed in the side wall thereof, a protuberance upon said body defining the outer wall of said inlet opening, said protuberance having a tangentially curved wall formed integral with the cylindrical-body, a web located within said body below said inlet opening, and said web inclined downwardly arranged for directing the flow of liquid spirally against the inner cylindrical surface of said body.

12. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body having open ends, supporting means upon the body for supporting the latter upon a tube of a condenser, a plurality of webs located within the body, said webs arranged in staggered relation to each other forming battles for directing the flow of liquid spirally through said body.

13. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body having open ends, supporting means upon the body for supporting the latter upon a tube of a condenser, said body having an inlet opening formed in the side wall thereof adjacent to the upper end of said body, a semicircular web located within said body and inclined downwardly from said inlet opening, said web having its peripheral portion formed integrally with the body portion, a second web located within said body portion, said second web located below and in spaced relation to said first mentioned web, said webs being located in staggered relation to each other whereby liquid passing downwardly from the inlet opening will be directed in a spiral course from the first mentioned web and discharged upon,the lower web, and said lower web being inclined downwardly for directing the flow of the liquid in a spiral course against the inner cylindrical surface of said body.

14. In a distributor for tubes of 'a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body having open ends, supporting means upon the body for supporting the latter upon a tube of a condenser, said body having an inlet opening formed through the side wall thereof, said opening positioned tangentially relatively to the axis of the cylindrical body, a breast wall formed integrally with said body defining the lower portion of the inlet opening, a web located within said body and inclined downwardly from said breast wall, said web being approximately of semicircular area, a second web located within the body portion, said second web located below and in spaced relation with the first mentioned web, and said webs being located upon diametrically opposite portions of the body arranged for directing a flow of liquid downwardly through the body in a spiral course.

15. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow body, a cylindrical shank forming the lower portion of said body adapted to be inserted into the upper end of a tube of the condenser, fingers located upon the medial portion of said body and projecting radially therefrom arranged for interlocking with the fingers of the adjacent distributor for preventing the rotation of the distributor within the tube, and means within said hollow body forming a spiral passageway through said body.

16. In a distributor for tubes of a condenser, a hollow cylindrical body, an annular flange formed upon the medial portion of said body arranged for supporting the distributor upon a tube of the condenser, a radially projecting finger formed upon said flange, a pair of radially projecting fingers located upon said flange at the opposite side of said body from the first mentioned finger, said body having an eccentrically positioned inlet opening located ad'acent to the upper edge of the cylindrical o'dy, a lip formed upon said body, said lip having a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface adjacent to the lower portion of the inlet opening, a

web located Within the body portion,-said web inclined downwardly from the lower portion of said inlet 0 ening, a second web located within the b0 portion below the first mentioned web, and said webs being arranged relatively to each other to form a spiral passageway for directing liquid in a spiral course downwardly through the body.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JQSEPH A. MARTQCELLO, SR. 

